Scottish Executive

Digital Technology

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the provision of broadband in the north-east of Scotland.

Iain Gray: Plans are being finalised to implement a step-change in broadband population coverage in Scotland, as well as to stimulate demand for services. In addition, we are already supporting trials of alternative technologies, such as powerline carrier and fixed wireless, which may have potential for commercial deployment in rural areas.

  Aberdeenshire is also shortly to benefit from the establishment of a broadband demonstration centre in Huntly and I would urge local companies to utilise this facility in order to increase the business case for more commercial broadband services in the area.

Digital Technology

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rules are governing the granting of subsidies to companies taking part in the trials of satellite-accessed broadband to cover installation costs as referred to in section 6 and paragraph 8.4 of Connecting Scotland: our broadband future: Making it Happen and whether these rules are specific to each local enterprise company.

Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for the Enterprise Networks.

Digital Technology

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many asymmetrical digital subscriber line enabled exchanges there are given the figures of 67 and 54 quoted respectively in Connecting Scotland: our broadband future: Making it Happen  and BT Scotland’s submission to the Rural Development Committee’s inquiry into integrated rural development; what percentage of these exchanges are in the Pathfinder areas, and what steps are being taken to encourage greater pre-registration of interest to speed up rural penetration of broadband access.

Iain Gray: There are currently 67 exchanges that are ADSL-enabled in Scotland and 4% of these are in Pathfinder areas.

  There are a number of measures already under way to increase interest in broadband, including a broadband information website and a network of broadband demonstration centres across Scotland.

  We also recently announced a new initiative, worth up to £24 million, to accelerate and widen the reach of broadband across Scotland. As part of this, we plan to undertake a technology-neutral marketing campaign with the private sector to promote awareness of broadband.

Enterprise

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any guidelines on the appointment of chairpersons of local enterprise companies (LEC).

Iain Gray: Scottish ministers are responsible for appointments to the Boards of Scottish Enterprise (SEn) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) under the terms of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990, and in accordance with the code of practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). LECs are private companies, wholly owned by SEn and HIE, and as such the appointment of their chairmen and board members are entirely a matter for the Enterprise Networks. However, the networks ensure that the selection procedures adhere to the principles of the OCPA guidance.

Enterprise

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local enterprise companies should be led by people that have expertise in high-growth entrepreneurial multi-sector enterprises, in the light of recent developments in some business sectors and, in particular, in the manufacturing sector.

Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Environment

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the environmental assessment that accompanied the application by the Central Science Laboratory for authorisation for an experimental permit to carry out trials of T3327 at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Allan Wilson: An environmental assessment was included in evaluation of the Central Science Laboratory’s application for authorisation for an experimental permit.

  This permit was granted under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended), which requires all pesticides to have gained approval before they can be advertised, sold, supplied, stored or used. The regulations do not allow for the publication of details of the assessments of experimental permits and the information supplied in support of an application for such a permit must be treated as confidential. However, the Central Science Laboratory, as the holder of the experimental permit and data owner, has agreed to make the evaluation available, subject to the removal of commercially confidentially information. Once such information is removed I will arrange for copies to be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  A summary of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides’ consideration of the application can be found at http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/committees/acp/ACP_293_mins.htm.

Firearms

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it had with the Home Secretary with regard to the changes in gun laws that would impact on the Scottish judiciary’s exercise of judicial discretion prior to the (a) announcement of the proposal for a minimum sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm and (b) meeting on gun crime held in London on 10 January 2003 and what ministerial representation or representation from the Justice Department, the police or other appropriate agencies there was at that meeting.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has been engaged in regular and continuing discussions with the Home Office on a wide range of firearms issues, including the recently announced proposals to combat gun crime. The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland was represented at the gun crime meeting held on 10 January.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive where the 15% figure in respect of possible future decommissioning originated and how this figure was calculated.

Ross Finnie: Article 6 of Annex XVII of Council Regulation 2341/2002 provides that the Commission may allocate additional fishing days to member states on the basis of the results or expected results of decommissioning programmes in 2002 and 2003.

  As part of the negotiations during the December 2002 Agriculture and Fisheries Council, the number of days a UK vessel could spend at sea in the regulated area carrying nets of mesh sizes of 100mm or more was negotiated upwards from seven days to 15 days per month. This was partly on the basis that further decommissioning in the UK during 2003 would reduce our fishing effort on cod by a further 15 to 20%.

Fisheries

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is now in a position to announce a package of financial assistance for Scotland’s fisheries-dependent communities.

Ross Finnie: Following the outcome of the December Council, I made clear our commitment to bring forward a reasonable package of financial assistance for Scotland’s fisheries dependent communities, and to keep the Parliament informed of progress in developing that package.

  Our intention is to lay three Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs) in the Parliament to give effect to the regulations adopted at the December Council, and to afford the fisheries sector and its associated communities the assistance we have promised in adjusting to these new Community measures. The first is likely to be laid later this week, with others following as soon as possible thereafter.

  Our policy objectives are two-fold. First, we wish to pursue sustainable development in the fisheries sector. It seems to us that sustainable fisheries are the best long-term guarantee of economic prosperity for our fishing communities. That inescapably implies further restructuring of the whitefish sector. Secondly, we wish to facilitate rational economic planning, and a process of structured change in the sector. We wish to avoid ill-considered responses driven by the February deadline for introduction of the new "days at sea" regime (Annex XVII of the new total allowable catch and Quota Regulation). Our forthcoming financial assistance package will, therefore, comprise a coherent and carefully balanced package designed to promote change in an orderly fashion.

  Our implementing and associated regulations will consist of an SSI to give effect to Annex XVII, an SSI to introduce a further Scottish decommissioning scheme, and an SSI to introduce a transitional support scheme for the whitefish sector.

  The SSI related to Annex XVII will be designed to give practical effect to what is a binding EC regulation. It will set out practical arrangements connected to the days at sea limits imposed by Annex XVII, and associated obligations on member states to monitor and control associated activity.

  The SSI on decommissioning will be designed to give effect to the underlying conservation and sustainable development objectives. The intention is to reduce Scottish fishing effort on cod by a further 15% to 20%, in conjunction with parallel initiatives for the rest of the UK in the Westminster Parliament. The scheme will be carefully targeted to ensure delivery of those conservation and commercial considerations. It will operate on the normal basis of competitive bidding. Eligibility criteria and other details of the scheme will be announced when we are ready to table the SSI.

  The SSI on transitional support will be designed to facilitate a rational economic response to the new economic circumstances implied by the reduced quotas and the days at sea regime. The intention is to secure a six-month breathing space for the industry to assess its prospects and adjust in a structured manner. We judge that this might not be possible, if the absence of such interim support resulted in debts being called in. As such, the scheme will be carefully targeted at those vessels most affected by the new regulations. It will help vessel owners retain their crews and their commercial viability, while they assess their longer term prospects and adjust accordingly. It will also be as simple as possible, in order to allow for rapid implementation. We will be discussing eligibility criteria and other details of the scheme with the industry. Those details will be announced when we are ready to table the SSI. However, it is also likely to focus on those Scottish vessels worst affected by the new arrangements

  Sustainable development is the key to long-term prosperity for the sector and our associated fishing communities. Rational (but not uncontrolled) restructuring is necessary. Our intention is therefore to underpin these SSIs with a generous financial package of up to £50 million covering both decommissioning and transitional support. Of that, we envisage spending up to £40 million on decommissioning and up to £10 million on transitional support.

  In addition, we will be taking steps to protect other vital fisheries from a diversion of fishing effort from existing whitefish activity. We are considering how best to protect the nephrops and shellfish sectors from such damaging displacement of effort.

  We are considering how best to build on the Scottish Fish Processors Action Plan. We will also ensure that our fishing communities acquire the support they need to weather these fundamental changes. We take the view that they have a future based on more sustainable fisheries. They will benefit over time from the initiatives described above. However, they will clearly need assistance in the short- and medium-term. That more general promotion of sustainable economic development and regeneration is best dealt by local organisations and agencies.

  The Enterprise Networks are already charged with promoting economic development across Scotland. Each local enterprise company continually assesses opportunities and needs in its area and designs specific responses to add to the range of support in business development and skills available across Scotland.

  In the North East, Scottish Enterprise Grampian is drawing up an action plan with local partners. This will expand on previously planned activity, and will cover a three-year period. Similarly, the local enterprise companies in the Highlands and Islands and Northern Isles are currently working with their economic development partners, particularly the local authorities, to consider and develop appropriate action plans for their respective areas.

  We hope that the unemployment effects of reduced quotas and the days at sea regime will be much smaller than feared. The aim will be to ensure that everything possible is done to help all those affected find alternative employment. First class support services will be available via the Executive’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) framework.

  Under the PACE framework, response teams have been set up in each local enterprise company area. These local response teams are all are taking forward pre-planning work to allow them to put in place the appropriate support structures. The PACE teams have considerable experience and understanding of the issues facing the fishing industry and are therefore well placed to deal with the situation.

  Taken as a package, these various initiatives are designed to promote economic development and sustainable fisheries communities, both by encouraging a more sustainable fisheries sector and by facilitating alternative development opportunities. We hope that they will encourage greater economic vitality in Scottish fishing communities, and the continuing prospect of a viable Scottish-owned fleet delivering a sustainable quality product into those communities and also to other markets beyond.

Flooding

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how often the ad hoc Committee of Ministers on Flooding has met; what matters it has discussed, and what decisions and conclusions it has reached.

Mr Jim Wallace: The ad hoc Committee of Ministers on Flooding has met twice to discuss a range of issues related to the current arrangements for addressing flood risk and how advice and support is provided to those at risk, or affected by flooding. The ad hoc committee has been asked to provide advice to Cabinet by the end of February on how current arrangements can be improved. Thereafter it will be for the Cabinet to decide on any action to be taken.

Flooding

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31676 by Mr Jim Wallace on 26 November 2002, whether the ad hoc Committee of Ministers on Flooding now plans to invite witnesses to give evidence and, if so, which witnesses have been, or will be, called.

Mr Jim Wallace: The ad hoc Committee of Ministers on Flooding Issues has no plans to invite witnesses to give evidence.

General Practitioners

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to fund improvements in quality associated with the new GP contracts and whether it will use a central fund for this purpose and, if so, what impact this will have on funding for other local health services.

Malcolm Chisholm: The April 2002 framework for the new General Medical Services (GMS) contract stated that practices providing GMS will be able to increase their income if they achieve a series of quality standards. I am happy to confirm our commitment to this.

  Negotiations on the detail and costing of the new GP contract are being taken forward on a UK basis by the NHS Confederation, representing the four UK Health Departments, and the UK General Practitioners Committee (GPC). No final decisions have yet been agreed and it would, therefore, be inappropriate for me at this stage to discuss details of the negotiations or their likely impact.

Medical Research

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the research advisory group on ME/chronic fatigue syndrome, appointed by the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Malcolm Chisholm: The independent scientific advisory group on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) was set up by the MRC to develop a broad strategy for advancing biomedical and health services research on CFS/ME. In December 2002, it issued a draft research strategy for public consultation, inviting responses by the end of this month. The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD) will be offering comments on the document and, once the MRC’s work is complete and the future strategic direction of research is clear, SEHD will seek to play a full part in the implementation of that strategy.

Medical Research

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports the work of the Medical Research Council.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD), together with other UK Health Departments, collaborates with the Medical Research Council (MRC) through a formal Concordat which aims to develop and maintain an effective partnership for the promotion, funding and management of UK medical research.

  SEHD takes account of MRC research strategies when making decisions about its own future research funding. This would include considerations about whether to fund studies on specific areas of research only within Scotland or to collaborate with the MRC in UK-wide programmes.

  At an operational level, the Chief Scientist Office within SEHD is actively engaged in funding research initiatives jointly with the MRC, namely the core-funding of two research units based in Glasgow and the funding of Research Training Fellowships, two of which are currently being supported over a three-year period.

NHS Staff

Iain Smith (North-East Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional members of medical staff have been appointed to chronic pain clinics since 1 May 1999.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Staff

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time-equivalent (a) management and (b) clinical staff there have been in the Grampian NHS Board area in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Information on the WTE staff in Grampian NHS Board for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001 is shown in the following table:

  Clinical Staff and Management Split in Grampian NHS Board for the Years 1999, 2000 and 2001.

  
 Clinical Staff
1999 2000
2001  Medical
1,192.6 1,212.7
1,323.6  Dental
220.0 212.6
213.0  Nursing 
and Midwifery1 4,940.9
4,935.5 5,031.5
 Scientific and Professional
137.4 142.6
151.1  Professions 
Allied to Medicine 660.4
675.3 689.6
 Technical
378.4 384.4
411.8  Ambulance2   
 Health Care Assistant
30.8 32.2
30.8  Total Clinical 
Staff 7,560.5
7,595.3 7,851.4
 Management   
 Senior Management
237.7 239.5
215.2  Administrative 
and Clerical3,4 1,333.8
1,400.9 1,458.9
 Total Management
1,571.5 1,640.4
1,674.1 

  Source: Medical and Dental Census and National Statistics from payroll, ISD.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes nurse teachers and teachers in training.

  2. Although ambulance staff are considered to be clinical, it is not possible to break the data down into NHS boards.

  3. Includes obsolete management grades and management trainees.

  4. Not all grades are management.

  More detailed information on the number of staff working in Grampian NHS Board area is available in tables A3 and A4 on the ISD website at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/NHSiS_resource/Workforce/workforce_statistics.htm.

Nursing

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the number of nurses that have access to a workplace nursery and what resources have been made available to ensure that further action will be taken to increase the number of nurses with such access.

Malcolm Chisholm: Guidance on Family Friendly Policies was prepared in partnership with the service, trade unions and the professions, and published in January 2000. This document contains a section on child care, and lists the provision of workplace nurseries as an option that employers should consider. The guidance underpins the Staff Governance Standard and all NHS Scotland Employers are required to meet or exceed it. Employers’ progress towards meeting the guidance will be part of the annual Staff Governance Standard audit process.

  NHS Organisations receive Scottish Executive funding each year, and the decision of how much of this money to allocate to provision of child care is made locally based on local priorities and circumstances. Some help with start up costs for nurseries may be available from local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the recent outbreak of disturbances at HM Prison Shotts in the light of the meeting between the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice and the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service.

Mr Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33286 on 21 January 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

Public Transport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of funding are available for the provision of on-demand bus services.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive specifically funds a number of on-demand services through the Rural Community Transport Initiative.

  Additionally, local transport authorities are free to fund on-demand services through their Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant and Grant Aided Expenditure allocations.

Renewable Energy

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32809 by Ross Finnie on 13 January 2003, what the flaw was in the study commissioned into public attitudes towards wind farms.

Ross Finnie: An inaccurate grid reference was used in respect of one of the wind farms. This meant that of the total number of people surveyed, fewer than had been thought lived within the close proximity zone of 5 km from the development.

Road Signs

Kay Ullrich (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which minister and department is responsible for deciding which towns appear on trunk road boundary signs.

Lewis Macdonald: Local authorities, not Scottish ministers, are responsible for deciding the names of the towns appearing on trunk road boundary signs within their local government area.

Roads

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard of work carried out by Amey Highways Ltd on the clearance of litter from the central reservations, verges, and slip roads of the A1, A720 and M8 is satisfactory.

Lewis Macdonald: The performance of Amey Highways Ltd on the clearance of litter from the M8, and on those sections of the A1 and A720 for which they are responsible, is monitored by the Scottish Executive and the independent Performance Audit Group (PAG). The Scottish Executive and PAG are satisfied that the standard of work carried out by Amey meets the requirements of the Trunk Road Maintenance Contract and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Roads

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what systems and mechanisms it utilises to monitor the clearance of litter carried out by Amey Highways Ltd from the central reservations, verges, and slip roads of the A1, A720 and M8.

Lewis Macdonald: The performance of Amey Highways Ltd in the clearance of litter is monitored by the independent Performance Audit Group (PAG). PAG’s field engineers carry out regular inspections of the routes to assess compliance with the requirements of the Trunk Road Maintenance Contract.

Roads

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions and penalties it can impose if it assesses the work carried out by Amey Highways Ltd on the clearance of litter from the central reservations, verges, and slip roads of the A1, A720 and M8 to be below standard.

Lewis Macdonald: Any non-compliance with the contractual requirements by Amey Highways Ltd can result in the issue of a Default Notice by the Scottish Executive and the withholding of payment for that work.

School Meals

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken following any findings by its expert panel on school meals that fizzy soft drinks, which are often available from vending machines in schools, may pose a threat to learning.

Malcolm Chisholm: An interim report of the expert panel on school meals, Hungry for Success was published in November 2002.

  In setting nutrient standards for school lunches, the interim report explains that a diet based on bread, cereals and other starchy foods, fruits and vegetables, and low amounts of fat, sugar, and salty foods is an underlying consideration in catering provision. The interim report advocated a whole-school approach to nutrition and health.

  Following a consultation exercise, the final report of the expert panel is due for publication next month, and ministers’ responses to the final report will be published at that time.

Scottish Executive Staff

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many job appraisal appeals were received under section 7.1 of the Scottish Executive staff handbook and the equivalent section of the former Scottish Office staff handbook for the annual reporting years (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98, (d) 1998-99, (e) 1999-2000 and (f) 2000-01.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many job appraisal appeals were heard, or have still to be heard, under section 7.1 of the Scottish Executive staff handbook and the equivalent section of the former Scottish Office staff handbook for the annual reporting years (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98, (d) 1998-99, (e) 1999-2000 and (f) 2000-01 and whether it will give a breakdown of the outcome of the appeals.

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the job title or grade was of the appellant in each appeal that was heard, or is still to be heard, under section 7.1 of the Scottish Executive staff handbook and the equivalent section of the former Scottish Office staff handbook for the annual reporting years (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97, (c) 1997-98, (d) 1998-99, (e) 1999-2000 and (f) 2000-01; what the job or title was of the nominated arbiter in each case; what training, including refresher courses, the arbiter attended; when any such training was given, and what the cost of the training was.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on appeals prior to the appraisal year 2001-02 is not held centrally. However, information collated by personnel teams, which may not be complete, shows that in the 2000-01 appraisal year five appeals were received and heard. Of these, two were upheld or partially upheld, two were not upheld and one has yet to be determined.

  In the 2001-02 appraisal year nine appeals were received and heard. Of these three were upheld, five were not upheld and one has yet to be determined.

  Appellants were in Bands A to C.

  Given the small number of appeals and the need to maintain confidentiality in relation to individuals it is not possible to give a more detailed breakdown of each case.

  The performance management system applies to all staff in Bands A to C. All arbiters are experienced managers at Head of Division level (Senior Civil Service) or the level immediately below (Band C). All staff receive training in performance appraisal and written guidance on the conduct of appeals is provided for arbiters and appellants. Also, personnel teams and heads of profession are available on request to provide advice.

Waste Management

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development will present the National Waste Plan to the Parliament.

Ross Finnie: I intend to launch the National Waste Plan on Monday 24 February. A copy will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 26101).

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Oath of Allegiance

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what arrangements are being made to facilitate new members in taking the Oath of Allegiance in Scots following the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May.

Sir David Steel: The oath of allegiance or solemn affirmation must be taken in English under the terms of the Promissory Oaths Act 1868 and the Oaths Act 1978. However, under Rule 1.2 of Standing Orders, after taking the oath or affirmation, a member may repeat it in a language other than English. In accordance with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body language policy, written versions will be available to members in the languages covered in that policy, but that does not preclude any member from using Scots or any other language if they so choose.